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California congressional leaders weigh in on ISIS following alleged beheading

Kitty Felde

Iraqi Army soldiers and volunteers chant slogans against the al-Qaida inspired group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), inside of the main army recruiting center in Baghdad on Saturday. Karim Kadim/AP

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Even before the video, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Democrat Dianne Feinstein, described the Islamic State as a “major varsity team,” saying “nothing compares with its viciousness.” Speaking this weekend on "Meet the Press," Feinstein said President Obama has been “too cautious” in his response to the Islamic militants, known as ISIS.

Jordan, Lebanon and other countries "are in jeopardy," she adds, and the regional conflict is a "good reason for people to come together now and begin to approach this as a very real threat that it in fact is."

Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, says ISIS has been beheading and crucifying “those who don’t share their dark ideology” across the region. The videos, says the Fullerton Republican, have another purpose: "a recruiting tool in which the terror that record is intended" brings them "foreign fighters from around the world." Speaking to reporters on a conference call from Israel, Royce says there are already 500 British citizens fighting with Islamic extremists, and 100 fighters from both America and Australia.

Royce is in the Middle East, speaking with Israeli officials about the ongoing battle with Hamas. He says he supports air strikes and drones targeting ISIS training camps and arming Kurds on the ground.

His Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the threat of the Islamic State next week, when Congress returns to Washington. He says Congress awaits the president’s proposal for action.